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A Night at the Frost Fair
Capture the magic of winters past with this stunning gift for all the family by bestselling author Emma Carroll, and award-winning illustrator, Sam Usher.
'A magical adventure to melt the frostiest of hearts' Ben Miller.
It’s Christmastime, and searching for magic, Maya finds herself transported back two hundred years to the banks of the frozen river Thames. A boy called Eddie shows Maya the bustle of the glittering frost fair, filled with music, sweet stalls and thrilling rides. Is this all a dream, or can Maya bring a piece of the beautiful frost fair home with her after all . . . ?
A winter story of freedom and family, from the award-winning Emma Carroll, with stunning full colour illustrations by Sam Usher, A Night at the Frost Fair is a classic to treasure on the family bookshelf this Christmas and for years to come.
'A magical adventure to melt the frostiest of hearts' Ben Miller.
It’s Christmastime, and searching for magic, Maya finds herself transported back two hundred years to the banks of the frozen river Thames. A boy called Eddie shows Maya the bustle of the glittering frost fair, filled with music, sweet stalls and thrilling rides. Is this all a dream, or can Maya bring a piece of the beautiful frost fair home with her after all . . . ?
A winter story of freedom and family, from the award-winning Emma Carroll, with stunning full colour illustrations by Sam Usher, A Night at the Frost Fair is a classic to treasure on the family bookshelf this Christmas and for years to come.
72 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
5 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Emma Carroll
30 books599 followersAfter years of teaching English to secondary school students, Emma now writes full time. She graduated with distinction from Bath Spa University’s MA in Writing For Young People. In another life Emma wishes she’d written ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne Du Maurier. She lives in the Somerset hills with her husband and three terriers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 28, 2023
Maya’s mum is visiting family in India; Maya and her dad and sister have just settled Gran into a clinical care home. Christmas is coming, and Gran handed out peculiarly mismatched presents: Maya’s older sister got a lovely brooch, while her own present was a weird brick-shaped brown object Gran says belonged to “Edmund”. Now the family is in a taxi home, crossing London Bridge, when Maya notices snow falling faster than seems possible and finds herself on a busy street of horse-drawn carriages, overlooking booths and hordes of people on the frozen river.
A sickly little boy named Eddie is her tour guide to the games, rides and snacks on offer here in 1788, but there’s a man around who wants to keep him from enjoying the fair. Maya hopes to help Eddie, and Gran, all while figuring out what the gift parcel means. A low page count meant this felt pretty thin, with everything wrapped up too soon. The problem, really, was that – believe it or not – this isn’t the first middle-grade time-slip historical fantasy novel about frost fairs that I’ve read; the other, Frost by Holly Webb, was better. Sam Usher’s Quentin Blake-like illustrations are a bonus, though.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
A sickly little boy named Eddie is her tour guide to the games, rides and snacks on offer here in 1788, but there’s a man around who wants to keep him from enjoying the fair. Maya hopes to help Eddie, and Gran, all while figuring out what the gift parcel means. A low page count meant this felt pretty thin, with everything wrapped up too soon. The problem, really, was that – believe it or not – this isn’t the first middle-grade time-slip historical fantasy novel about frost fairs that I’ve read; the other, Frost by Holly Webb, was better. Sam Usher’s Quentin Blake-like illustrations are a bonus, though.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
March 28, 2022
I loved this story of how a mystery from years ago can be solved by accident. The story has a really nice feeling to it as your reading. I really felt I could imagine myself there too.
December 20, 2025
the English accents in this was a delight! take me to a wintery Christmas fair (and let me skate for a mere shilling, please!)
December 5, 2021
A lovely little book which helps to explain the Frost Fairs which were held on the Thames over 200 years ago. There's a bit of magic and adventure thrown in too ☺️❄️
January 16, 2022
A very interesting and short book about a girl who time travels back to the last time the River Thames froze over and makes friends with a boy who is more connected to her than she realises. I really enjoyed this book. It was short, sweet and very easy to read. I always enjoy Emma Carroll's descriptions. This also intrigued me enough to want to do more research on Frost Fairs and the time in London (1300s-1870s) known as the "little ice age". I imagine that this will intrigue young readers and ignite a curiosity within them as it did for me.
December 26, 2021
I like how to book opened to explain about her nan. Also tell the reader that her mum is in India.
Maya had been given a Brown box by her nan and when she left her nan something magical started to happen. She was confused as she couldnt tell if it was real or a dream and was confused that somehow she had transported two hundred in to the past. I like that a boy bumps into her and starts talking.
I like that Maya and Eddie have become friends because of him running from a man in a dark cloak because he is ill.
I like the suspense in chapter 4 as it builds through out the chapter as the man in the cloak gets closer to Eddie.
I like that the woman who was talking to Maya from the window explains that Eddie is ill and the man in the dark cloak is Eddie's dad. Maya then writes a letter to Eddie's dad.
After writing the letter Maya starts to cry but as she walks away from Eddie's house. People started to fayed and the taxi re-appears as she got closer she noticed that her dad and sister hadn't noticed Maya had left. Then Maya felt the brown lump her nan had gave her which made her question was it a dream or was it real ?
Once Maya got home she called her nan who explains that the Brown lump is gingerbread that Eddie bought on the 5 February 1788 and Eddie was Edmond millage who was Mayas grandmother's father's great great great grand uncle and her nan also explained that Eddie was able to get better from Maya's letter.
Maya had been given a Brown box by her nan and when she left her nan something magical started to happen. She was confused as she couldnt tell if it was real or a dream and was confused that somehow she had transported two hundred in to the past. I like that a boy bumps into her and starts talking.
I like that Maya and Eddie have become friends because of him running from a man in a dark cloak because he is ill.
I like the suspense in chapter 4 as it builds through out the chapter as the man in the cloak gets closer to Eddie.
I like that the woman who was talking to Maya from the window explains that Eddie is ill and the man in the dark cloak is Eddie's dad. Maya then writes a letter to Eddie's dad.
After writing the letter Maya starts to cry but as she walks away from Eddie's house. People started to fayed and the taxi re-appears as she got closer she noticed that her dad and sister hadn't noticed Maya had left. Then Maya felt the brown lump her nan had gave her which made her question was it a dream or was it real ?
Once Maya got home she called her nan who explains that the Brown lump is gingerbread that Eddie bought on the 5 February 1788 and Eddie was Edmond millage who was Mayas grandmother's father's great great great grand uncle and her nan also explained that Eddie was able to get better from Maya's letter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2021
A Night at the Frost Fair by Emma Carroll and illustrated by Sam Usher
This was one of my @Waterstones hardback buys.. I love Emma Carroll and will read anything she writes.
This is a perfect winter escapism book. I think it was meant for a younger audience but it was so good that I did not care.
Mayas Grandmother has gone into a care home and her family go and visit, Grandma gives Maya a gift of a brown block… in the taxi home she is transported to 200 years before and the frost fair, held on the River Thames, she meets a boy called Eddie and has an adventure keeping herself and Eddie out of the clutches of a man who seems to be chasing Eddie…
It’s a magic tale and its just full of joy, I must mention the illustrations as they are sumptuous and really hype up the magic of the story.
It is only 50 odd pages long but it is the perfect length to tell this little story. The story is completed really satisfactory and it does fill you with warmth.
It’s a perfect little book for older and younger readers.
#England #Frost #Magic #Adventure
This was one of my @Waterstones hardback buys.. I love Emma Carroll and will read anything she writes.
This is a perfect winter escapism book. I think it was meant for a younger audience but it was so good that I did not care.
Mayas Grandmother has gone into a care home and her family go and visit, Grandma gives Maya a gift of a brown block… in the taxi home she is transported to 200 years before and the frost fair, held on the River Thames, she meets a boy called Eddie and has an adventure keeping herself and Eddie out of the clutches of a man who seems to be chasing Eddie…
It’s a magic tale and its just full of joy, I must mention the illustrations as they are sumptuous and really hype up the magic of the story.
It is only 50 odd pages long but it is the perfect length to tell this little story. The story is completed really satisfactory and it does fill you with warmth.
It’s a perfect little book for older and younger readers.
#England #Frost #Magic #Adventure
December 17, 2022
A nice little story that throws the reader back into the times where the Thames was frozen over and life was a world apart. Maya time travels and finds herself back in time after a gift from her gran sends her hurtling through the eras.
I loved the concept and it was an entertaining short read. I felt like it was a little rushed and only really got started and it ended but I suppose that is the point of a shorter festive story! Emma Carroll is a fab writer and can set the scene and relay the story with ease, it was effortless to listen to (I had the audiobook) and was entertaining throughout.
Didn’t quite hook as I thought it might but there is nothing to say that’s inherently bad, it was more my failure to get immersed, but it was short and it normally takes me some time to get the feel. I’d definitely recommend this as a little hit of festive fun for children and adults alike.
I loved the concept and it was an entertaining short read. I felt like it was a little rushed and only really got started and it ended but I suppose that is the point of a shorter festive story! Emma Carroll is a fab writer and can set the scene and relay the story with ease, it was effortless to listen to (I had the audiobook) and was entertaining throughout.
Didn’t quite hook as I thought it might but there is nothing to say that’s inherently bad, it was more my failure to get immersed, but it was short and it normally takes me some time to get the feel. I’d definitely recommend this as a little hit of festive fun for children and adults alike.
December 16, 2021
Maya is given an odd gift by her grandmother (honestly, she'd have preferred the present her older sister received...) but all is not as it seems. Soon Maya is caught up in an exciting adventure which could help Maya, and her family, understand what's really important for grandmother...
This is a short and sweet tale by one of my favourite children's authors, but this time for a slightly younger audience. A good 3 star read.
This is a short and sweet tale by one of my favourite children's authors, but this time for a slightly younger audience. A good 3 star read.
January 11, 2023
This book is very cute and Cozy. It contains 70 pages and is interesting too. The characters are very down-to-earth and sweet. The illustrations are very beautiful and to be honest I read this book because of its amazing cover picture. The story is very heart-touching with a little bit of magic in it.
December 26, 2021
3.75 Story of maya and a gift a he receives from her gran who has moved in to a care home. This gift leads maya to meet Eddie at the London frost fair. An enjoyable magical read with joyous illustrations.
December 28, 2022
4,5 stars rounded up
I really adored this book! The story is so wintry and Christmassy, it was perfect for reading it in December, and the audiobook was amazing. And I think I have a new author to discover more from! :)
I really adored this book! The story is so wintry and Christmassy, it was perfect for reading it in December, and the audiobook was amazing. And I think I have a new author to discover more from! :)
November 21, 2021
a beautiful story for the holiday season. I could not believe it was over, I want more of this adventure!
December 6, 2021
DEVOURED THIS. Magic + adventure perfect for this time of year.
December 9, 2021
This was so cute <3
December 23, 2021
Gosh I love Emma Carroll. This is about 50 pages and yet it's a proper little treat of a Christmas story.
December 26, 2021
Сладка история за пътуване назад във времето и посещаване на Коледен панаир върху замръзналата река Темза в Лондон.
January 2, 2022
I loved reading this, very atmospheric. Perfect for younger readers.
February 11, 2022
So cute! I always wish these stories were longer, but it was a fun, quick read for Polarthon! ❄️
April 11, 2022
Beautiful short book about the frost fairs held in London when the Thames froze over. The trip into the past links in with a modern day story about a grandmother going into care.
December 19, 2022
Either 3,5 or 4 stars! It was a really cute and quick read and I can recommend the audio book
December 25, 2022
3.0
A cute, very short Christmas story. So short in fact, that it's hard to review. I wanted something christmassy and wintry and I got what I wanted, it was nice.
A cute, very short Christmas story. So short in fact, that it's hard to review. I wanted something christmassy and wintry and I got what I wanted, it was nice.
December 26, 2022
3 stars 🌟
It was cute.
It was cute.
February 10, 2023
3.5 ⭐️. A cute Wintery story with beautiful illustrations.
February 26, 2023
Loved it. In research for some books to read for my son I came across this story. I really loved it and will definitely read it with/ to my child.
October 2, 2023
I was disappointed with this book. Not one of her best books. Thought that I had missed a page out and went back twice to check. The story was a good idea, but it was not written well.
December 25, 2023
so magical & wintry!
July 18, 2024
I absolutely loved reading this book it wasn't very long but a great read notheless and it's not just for children and I learnt a lot about the history of the frost fair which was great 👍
June 27, 2022
This was such a good story!! I really need to read more Emma Carroll.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews